Author: Primož Novak
Artist: Elvis Jackson
Label: EJ Rec
Release: numbers
Duration: 38:11
Rating: 4/5
It took a full šix years for Elvis Jackson to record a new full-length album. Its predecessor Against The Gravity got promoted at every gig imaginable, and it felt like EJ were running a bit dry. But last year they surprised everyone with the mellow EP Window, proving the guys were still creating. At the same time, they announced they were hard at work on a new album. Based on the EP, people started guessing that EJ had ditched the punk-rock side and gone all-in on reggae/ska.
With the first single, Any Place To Go, EJ shut the skeptics up. The band went back to its roots, to the days when youthful energy was tearing them apart and they mostly cranked out fast, aggressive songs. Even the album title and the cover tell you there are no compromises here. The record packs in 12 new songs, and with a few exceptions they all run at a higher tempo. Only Hey and Take Your Time are a bit slower. Luckily, EJ didn’t just line up 12 similar tracks. There’s the odd »filler«, sure, but the songs are pretty varied, as the band mixes a touch of hardcore and even metal into its punk rock. So this isn’t just another typical punk-rock record full of generic stuff. It may have let down the fans who swear by EJ’s gentler side, but the old-school fans should basically be happy with it.
Radio Unfriendly proves the band is still full of energy. Singer Buda, with his one-of-a-kind voice and lyrics, gives the whole album a positive vibe. He also has a great knack for crafting standout choruses that the crowd will happily sing along to at gigs. Guitarist Berto serves up a whole pile of punk-rock riffs that lean more melodic. You could name plenty of influences here, like Lagwagon, NOFX, Bad Religion and so on. But melody isn’t all Berto can do. You can also hear a more hardcore approach here and there, or even a thrash-metal one. In Realization, the heaviest track on the record, you can hear a Metallica influence toward the end. To spice things up, Berto also throws in the occasional solo, which isn’t exactly common in punk rock. Another standout is drummer Soki, who first showed what he could do on Against The Gravity and gave the band a new kick in the process. Soki’s style is unique, and every part of every song is polished from his side. This is a drummer who could play in just about any world-famous punk band. Bassist Slavc stands out the least. He’s solid and you can hear him fine, but he doesn’t go overboard with his own lines, acting more as a support for the guitar, which makes plenty of sense for EJ’s style.
Radio Unfriendly is undeniably a wild album, but judging by the running times and the structure of the songs, plenty of these tracks could be pitched as potential radio hits. The singalong quality and ‘catchy’ choruses fit that too. Even though the album is supposed to be a return to the band’s beginnings, it sounds fresh and easy on the ears. Now we can only hope we won’t have to wait until 2021 for the next one.
Lineup
David Kovšca Buda – vocals
Boštjan Beltram Berto – guitar
Erik Makuc Slavc – bass guitar
Marko Soršak Soki – drums
Production
Rok Podbevšek + Elvis Jackson
Tracklist
01. Any Place To Go
02. Hangover
03. Friends
04. Who Do I Fight For
05. Hey
06. Straight Ahead
07. Rock This Town
08. Realization
09. Take Your Time
10. The Answer
11. Not Just Ordinary
12. Looking Up
